Short bio Galina Ustvolskaya
Full biography Galina Ustvolskaya
Galina Ustvolskaya was a renowned Russian composer who was born on June 17, 1919, in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), Russia. Ustvolskaya was one of the most significant composers of the 20th century, and her works were often described as haunting and powerful.
Ustvolskaya began her musical career in 1937 at the Leningrad Conservatory, where she studied composition with the famous composer Shostakovich. She continued to work closely with Shostakovich for several years, and he remained a close friend and mentor throughout her life. Ustvolskaya created a distinct style of composition that was unconventional, intensely personal, and often drew on her deep Orthodox Christian faith.
Ustvolskaya's musical output was relatively small, with only 21 pieces of music completed in her lifetime. However, her works were highly esteemed by her colleagues and have since been recognized as some of the most powerful compositions of the 20th century. Her compositions often utilized unusual instrumentation, including piano, percussion, and woodwind instruments, and incorporated elements of minimalism and abstraction.
Ustvolskaya passed away on December 22, 2006, in St. Petersburg, Russia, at the age of 87. Despite her relatively small output, she is remembered as a highly influential composer whose unique approach to composition continues to inspire and challenge musicians and audiences to this day. Her legacy will continue to inspire generations of musicians and composers to explore new frontiers in musical expression and experimentation.
Compositions featuring Galina Ustvolskaya
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Symphony No. 5 (Amen) | 13:15 min | Symphony | 1990 |
| 2 | Piano Sonata No. 6 | 6:59 min | Keyboard | 1988 |
| 3 | Symphony No. 4 ("Prayer"), for mezzo-soprano, trumpet, piano & tam-tam | 7:09 min | Vocal Music | 1987 |
| 4 | Piano Sonata No. 5 | 16:37 min | Keyboard | 1986 |
| 5 | Symphony No. 3 "Jesus Messiah, Save us!" | 15:49 min | Symphony | 1983 |
| 6 | Symphony No. 2 "True And Eternal Bliss" | 16:16 min | Symphony | 1979 |
| 7 | Composition III, for 4 flutes, 4 bassoons & piano ("Benedictus qui venit") | 7:38 min | Chamber Music | 1974 |
| 8 | Composition II, for 8 double basses & piano ("Dies irae") | 19:38 min | Chamber Music | 1972 |
| 9 | Composition I, for flute/piccolo, tuba & piano ("Dona nobis pacem") | 17:05 min | Chamber Music | 1970 |
| 10 | Duet, for violin & piano | 27:38 min | Chamber Music | 1964 |
| 11 | Grand duet for cello & piano | 23:17 min | Chamber Music | 1959 |
| 12 | Piano Sonata No. 4 | 10:21 min | Keyboard | 1957 |
| 13 | Symphony No. 1, for orchestra & 2 boy voices (on verses by Gianni Rodari) | 20:40 min | Symphony | 1955 |
| 14 | Preludes (12) for piano | 19:35 min | Keyboard | 1953 |
| 15 | Piano Sonata No. 3 | 17:28 min | Keyboard | 1952 |
| 16 | Sonata for violin & piano | 20:17 min | Chamber Music | 1952 |
| 17 | Octet for 2 oboes, 4 violins, timpani & piano | 16:06 min | Chamber Music | 1950 |
| 18 | Piano Sonata No. 2 | 9:41 min | Keyboard | 1949 |
| 19 | Trio for clarinet, violin & piano | 15:24 min | Chamber Music | 1949 |
| 20 | Piano Sonata No. 1 | 9:36 min | Keyboard | 1947 |
| 21 | Concerto for piano, string orchestra and timpani | 17:07 min | Concerto | 1946 |
Albums featuring Galina Ustvolskaya
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Boulanger | Bacewicz | Ustwolskaja | Higdon - Louise Chisson, Tamara Atschba – 20th Century Feminine(CD, ) | 2021 | Hänssler Classic |
| 2 |  |
Ustvolskaya / Yevlakhov / Uspensky / Korchmar - Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Leningrad Chamber Orchestra, Serebryakov, Waiman, Gutnikov, Jansons, Serov, Dmitriev – Leningrad Concertos(CD, Compilation) | 2020 | Northern Flowers |
| 3 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya & Alfred Schnittke - Viviane Spanoghe, Jan Michiels – Works For Cello & Piano(CD, ) | 2020 | Etcetera (3) |
| 4 |  |
Ustvolskaya - Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Yevgeny Mravinsky, Arvīds Jansons – Suites & Poems(2×CD, Stereo, Mono) | 2019 | Brilliant Classics |
| 5 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya - Evgeny Sorkin, Natalia Andreeva – Complete Works For Violin And Piano(CD, ) | 2019 | Divine Art |
| 6 |  |
Olga Andryushchenko, Gubaidulina | Denisov | Silvestrov | Ustvolskaya | Pärt | Schnittke – 20th Century Piano Works(CD, ) | 2018 | Мелодия |
| 7 |  |
Galina Ustwolskaja - Andreas Seidel, Steffen Schleiermacher – Violin & Piano(CD, ) | 2018 | MDG |
| 8 |  |
Antonii Baryshevskyi - Galina Ustvolskaya – Piano Sonatas Nos. 1-6(CD, Album) | 2017 | Avi-Music |
| 9 |  |
Chamber Music(CD, ) | 2017 | Northern Flowers |
| 10 |  |
Rostropovich, Piazzolla, Ustvolskaya, Schnittke – Back In Russia, 1996(12×File, MP3) | 2017 | Warner Classics |
| 11 |  |
Ustvolskaya • Silvestrov • Kancheli, Elisaveta Blumina, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Thomas Sanderling – Works For Piano And Orchestra(CD, ) | 2016 | Grand Piano (2) |
| 12 |  |
Beethoven / Ustvolskaya - Patricia Hase, Ensemble Galina & Peter Leipold – Grand Piano Masters ~ Concertos By Beethoven & Ustvolskaya(CD, ) | 2016 | K&K Verlagsanstalt |
| 13 |  |
Svetozar Ivanov - Crumb, Scriabin, Berio , And Ustvolskaya – Dream Images(CD, ) | 2016 | Gega New |
| 14 |  |
The Precise Music Of Galina Ustvolskaya • The Six Piano Sonatas(DVD, DVD-Video, PAL, Stereo) | 2015 | WERGO |
| 15 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya - Natalia Andreeva – Russian Piano Music Vol. 11: Piano Sonatas 1-6, Preludes 1-12(2×CD, Album) | 2015 | Divine Art |
| 16 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya - Patricia Kopatchinskaja / Markus Hinterhäuser / Reto Bieri – Untitled(CD, Album) | 2014 | ECM Records |
| 17 |  |
Alexei Lubimov - Bartok, Brahms, Schoenberg, Webern, Berg, Ustvolskaya, Schnittke, Volkonsky – Private Collection Volume 2: Chamber Music(2×CD, Album) | 2013 | Артсервис |
| 18 |  |
Zodiac Trio - Stravinsky · Ustvolskaya · Bacri · Bartok – Stravinsky · Ustvolskaya · Bacri · Bartok(CD, ) | 2012 | Blue Griffin Recording |
| 19 |  |
David Howard (8) - Steven Stucky / Galina Ustvolskaya / Esa-Pekka Salonen / Johannes Brahms – David Howard Plays Clarinet Works(CD, ) | 2011 | Yarlung Records |
| 20 |  |
Composition No. 2 "Dies Irae" | Sonata No. 6 | Grand Duet(CD, Album) | 2011 | WERGO |
| 21 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya - Sabine Liebner – Complete Works For Piano(2×SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Stereo, Album) | 2009 | Neos |
| 22 |  |
Veronika Iltchenko - Babadjanian, Mussorgsky, Ustvolskaya – Recital(CD, Album) | 2007 | EMS Consulting |
| 23 |  |
Valentin Silvestrov / Arvo Pärt / Galina Ustvolskaya - Alexei Lubimov / Alexander Trostiansky / Kyrill Rybakov – Misterioso | 2006 | ECM New Series |
| 24 |  |
Anatoly Vedernikov - Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Ustvolskaya, Bella Bartok – Petroushka, Suite From Ballet / Piano Sonata No.5, Op. 38/135 / Piano Sonata No.2 / Sonata For 2 Pianos And Percussion(CD, ) | 2002 | Classound |
| 25 |  |
Shostakovich & Ustvolskaya - Jacoby, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Mackerras – Piano Concertos | 2002 | Dutton Laboratories |
| 26 |  |
St. Peters Trio / Julian Milkis - Shostakovich, Tishchenko, Ustvolskaya – Petersburg Chamber Music Secrets(CD, Album) | 2001 | Beaux |
| 27 |  |
Galina Ustwolskaja / Wolfgang Rihm / Bernd Alois Zimmermann – Musica Viva 03: Sinfonie Nr. 3 / Musik Für Klarinette Und Orchester / Photoptosis(CD, ) | 2001 | col legno |
| 28 |  |
Pianoconcerto & Symphony 1(CD, Album) | 2000 | Megadisc Classics |
| 29 |  |
Symphonies 2, 3, 4 & 5(CD, Album) | 2000 | Megadisc Classics |
| 30 |  |
Reinbert de Leeuw, Cherry Duyns, Messiaen, Goebaidulina, Górecki, Kagel, Oestvolskaja, Vivier, De Vries, Ligeti – Toonmeesters (Acht Portretten Van Hedendaagse Componisten) | 1998 | VPRO |
| 31 |  |
Piano Sonatas | 1998 | col legno |
| 32 |  |
Shostakovich / Ustvolskaya / Silvestrov - Paul de Jong / Reinier van Houdt – Sonata Op.40 / Grand Duet / Sonata(CD, ) | 1997 | Not On Label |
| 33 |  |
Anton Webern / Galina Ustvolskaya / Valentin Silvestrov / Pierre Boulez - Ingrid Karlen – Variations(CD, Album) | 1997 | ECM Records |
| 34 |  |
Concerto For Piano, String Orchestra And Timpani · Octet For 2 Oboes, 4 Violins, Timpani And Piano · Sonata No. 3 For Piano · Grand Duet For Violoncello And Piano(CD, Compilation) | 1997 | Мелодия |
| 35 |  |
Ustvolskaya - Ivan Sokolov – Complete Piano Sonatas, 12 Preludes | 1996 | Triton (5) |
| 36 |  |
Górecki • Gubaidulina • Ustvolskaya • Pelécis - Alexei Lubimov, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Heinrich Schiff – Mosaic: Piano Concertos | 1996 | Erato |
| 37 |  |
Sofia Gubaidulina / Galina Ustvolskaya - Maya Beiser, Christopher Oldfather, Dorothy Papadakos – In Croce / Ten Preludes / Grand Duet For Cello And Piano(CD, ) | 1995 | Koch International Classics |
| 38 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya - Frank Denyer – Complete Piano Sonatas(CD, ) | 1995 | Conifer Classics |
| 39 |  |
Ustvolskaya, Schönberg Ensemble, Reinbert de Leeuw – Compositions I, II, III | 1995 | Philips |
| 40 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya - Marianne Schroeder – 3 · Piano Sonatas 1-6 | 1995 | hat ART |
| 41 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya - Oleg Malov & The St. Petersburg Soloists – Grand Duet & Duet(CD, Album) | 1995 | Megadisc Classics |
| 42 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya - Oleg Malov & The St. Petersburg Soloists – An Introduction To Galina Ustvolskaya(CD, Compilation) | 1995 | Megadisc Classics |
| 43 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya - Oleg Malov & The St. Petersburg Soloists – Trio, Sonata & Octet(CD, ) | 1994 | Megadisc Classics |
| 44 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya - Oleg Malov – Piano Sonatas(CD, Album) | 1994 | Megadisc Classics |
| 45 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya · Dmitri Shostakovich – Octet · Composition No.3 (Benedictus Qui Venit) · Symphony No.5 'Amen' · Piano Quintet | 1994 | Conifer Classics |
| 46 |  |
Sofia Gubaidulina / Jelena Firssowa / Galina Ustwolskaja – Kammermusik = Chamber Music = Musique De Chambre(CD, ) | 1994 | Koch Schwann |
| 47 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya · The Barton Workshop – The Barton Workshop Plays Galina Ustvolskaya – Symphony No.4 "Prayer" · Grand Duet · Piano Sonata No.5 · Trio(CD, ) | 1993 | Etcetera (3) |
| 48 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya - Marianne Schroeder, Rohan de Saram, David Le Clair, Felix Renggli – 2(CD, Album) | 1993 | hat ART |
| 49 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya - Reinbert de Leeuw, Vera Beths, Harmen de Boer – 1 | 1992 | hat ART |
| 50 |  |
Schostakowtisch / Ustwolskaja - Josef Rissin, Olga Rissin-Morenova – Sonaten Für Violine Und Klavier(LP, Stereo) | 1990 | Sound-Star-Ton |
| 51 |  |
Gubaidulina, Hölszky, Dinescu, Ustwolskaja, Marbe – Gesänge Aus Osteuropa (Heidelberg Internationales Festival Neue Musik · Komponistinnen Heute)(CD, Album) | 1990 | Classic Mediaphon |
| 52 |  |
Shostakovich • Miaskovsky • Schnittke • Ustvolskaya - Boris Petrushansky – 20th Century Soviet Piano Music | 1989 | MCA Classics |
| 53 |  |
Большой Дуэт Для Виолончели И Фортепиано / Сонатина И Соната N°1 Для Фортепиано(LP) | 1986 | Мелодия |
| 54 |  |
Октет Для Двух Гобоев, Четырех Скрипок, Литавр И Фортепиано / Соната № 3 Для Фортепиано | 1976 | Мелодия |
| 55 |  |
Павел Серебряков - Д. Шостакович / Б. Гольц / Г. Уствольская – Концерт № 1 До Мажор Для Фортепиано С Оркестром / Четыре Прелюдии Для Фортепиано / Концерт До Минор Для Фортепиано С Оркестром | 1971 | Мелодия |
| 56 |  |
А. Николаев = A. Nikolaev / Г. Уствольская = G. Ustvolskaya – Симфония = Symphony / Огни В Степи = Lights In The Steppe | 1963 | Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga |
| 57 |  |
G. Ustvolskaya / R. Shchedrin – Children's Suite For Symphony Orchestra / Concerto For Piano And Orchestra | 1958 | Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga |
| 58 |  |
Galina Ustvolskaya - Oleg Malov & The St. Petersburg Soloists – Preludes & Compositions(CD, Repress) | - | Megadisc Classics |
Videos featuring Galina Ustvolskaya
Galina Ustvolskaya: Dies Irae / Grand Duet
℗ 2011 wergo
Released on: 2011-12-09
Auto-generated by YouTube.
">Composition No.2 "Dies Irae"
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Composition No.2 "Dies Irae" · Ludus Gravis & Marino Formenti · Galina Ustwolskaja
Galina Ustvolskaya: Dies Irae / Grand Duet
℗ 2011 wergo
Released on: 2011-12-09
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Galina Ustvolskaya - The Six Piano Sonatas
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Trio (1949) : Espressivo / Dolce / Energico
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Trio (1949) : Espressivo / Dolce / Energico · Galina Ustvolskaya · Reinbert de Leeuw · Vera Beths · Harmen de Boer
Galina Ustvolskaya: 1
℗ 1992 HAT HUT RECORDS LTD.
Released on: 2015-01-27
Auto-gen
Duet for Violin and Piano (1964)
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Duet for Violin and Piano (1964) · Galina Ustvolskaya · Reinbert de Leeuw · Vera Beths
Galina Ustvolskaya: 1
℗ 1992 HAT HUT RECORDS LTD.
Released on: 2015-01-27
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Galina Ustvolskaya Piano Sonatas 1-6
Christopher Narloch performs the complete piano sonatas of Galina Ustvolskaya (1919-2006).
Sonata No. 1 (1947)
Sonata No. 2 (1949) 9:13
Sonata No. 3 (1952) 17:56
Sonata No. 4 (1957) 33:00
Sonata No. 5 (1986) 43:05
Sonata No. 6 (1988) 57:00
This was reco
Ustvolskaya - Composition No. 1 (part 1 of 2)
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"..Louise Chisson had already strongly attracted my attention with her previous 2 recordings, together with a terrific georgian pianist Tamara Atschba. They recorded a bew album of high interes
">Album "20th Century Feminine" by Philippe Cassard / France Musique
"20 Century Feminine" by Philippe Cassard in France musique:
"..Louise Chisson had already strongly attracted my attention with her previous 2 recordings, together with a terrific georgian pianist Tamara Atschba. They recorded a bew album of high interes
Symphony no 4 Prayer
Provided to YouTube by [Merlin] WMO
Symphony no 4 Prayer · The barton Workshop
The Barton Workshop plays Galina Ustvolskaya
℗ Etcetera
Released on: 1993-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Ustvolskaya - Composition No. 1 (part 2 of 2)
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Trio for Violin, Clarinet and Piano: I. Espressiv (Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Trio for Violin, Clarinet and Piano: I. Espressiv (Remastered) · Reinbert de Leeuw · Vera Beths · Harmen de Boer · Galina Ustvolskaya
I (Remastered)
℗ 2017 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2017-10-
Ustvolskaya Composition No 2. (part 1 of 2)
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Trio for Violin, Clarinet and Piano: III. Energico (Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Trio for Violin, Clarinet and Piano: III. Energico (Remastered) · Reinbert de Leeuw · Vera Beths · Harmen de Boer · Galina Ustvolskaya
I (Remastered)
℗ 2017 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2017-10
Ustvolskaya - Composition No. 2 (part 2 of 2)
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Trio for Violin, Clarinet and Piano: II. Dolce (Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Trio for Violin, Clarinet and Piano: II. Dolce (Remastered) · Reinbert de Leeuw · Vera Beths · Harmen de Boer · Galina Ustvolskaya
I (Remastered)
℗ 2017 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2017-10-13
Ustvolskaya - Grand duet for cello and piano (part 1 of 2)
Galina Ivanovna USTVOLSKAYA (1919 — 2006)
Grand duet for cello and piano (1959) in five movements
Cello: Maya Beiser
Piano: Christopher Oldfather
1994
Ustvolskaya - Grand duet for cello and piano (part 2 of 2)
Galina Ivanovna USTVOLSKAYA (1919 — 2006)
Grand duet for cello and piano (1959) in five movements
Cello: Maya Beiser
Piano: Christopher Oldfather
1994
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